Antisocial Behaviour

Mr. Alan Campbell:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many antisocial behaviour orders have been issued in North Tyneside. [65530]

10 Jul 2002 : Column 1058W

Mr. Denham:
Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The data given in the table covers the period up to the end of December 2001.

We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of this information.

Number of anti-social behaviour orders issued as from 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2001 within Northumbria by area

Area

From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(45)

From 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000

From 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001

Total

Police force area/MCC(46)

Northumbria

8

5

5

18

Local government authority

Gateshead MBC

(47)

3



3

Newcastle upon Tyne, City of

(47)



2

2

North Tyneside Council

(47)



2

2

South Tyneside MBC

(47)

1

1

2

Sunderland CC

(47)

1



1

(45) Total figure only available for Northumbria police force area within this period.

(46) MCCMagistrates Courts Committee area.

(47) Not available.

Stephen Hesford:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on his plans to reduce antisocial behaviour among young people. [66716]

Mr. Denham:
The Government are introducing a range of initiatives to reduce antisocial behaviour among young people. We are evaluating the success of Acceptable Behaviour Contacts and will be disseminating good practice for practitioners. We are enhancing the effectiveness of antisocial behaviour orders so the community can be protected more quickly. The range of other measures being introduced includes truancy sweeps and the safer schools partnerships scheme. These initiatives build on the work being delivered through the youth inclusion programmes and the Connexions Service as well as a range of programmes introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998.

Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) parenting orders and (b) antisocial behaviour orders have been brought into force in London in each year, broken down by London borough, since their introduction; and if he will make a statement. [66816]

Mr. Denham:
The number of parenting orders imposed in London between 1 July 2000 to 31 December 2001 are set out in the table. This information comes from the Youth Justice Board.

Antisocial behaviour orders (ASBOs) were introduced from 1 April 1999. The data given in the table show the number of ASBOs reported to the Home Office covering the period up to the end of December 2001.

We are currently considering whether any further checks are needed to ensure the accuracy of the number of ASBOs reported.

10 Jul 2002 : Column 1059W

Number of parenting orders imposed in London from July 2000 to December 2001

Borough(48)

July to December 2000

January to December 2001

Total

Barking and Dagenham

4

12

16

Barnet

1

7

8

Bexley

0

2

2

Bromley

0

4

4

Croydon

1

6

7

Ealing

1

9

10

Enfield

6

1

7

Greenwich

5

18

23

Hammersmith and Fulham

3

5

8

Haringey

1

0

1

Havering

2

5

7

Hillingdon

0

8

8

Kensington and Chelsea

4

0

4

Kingston upon Thames

9

6

15

Lambeth

2

11

13

Lewisham

4

6

10

Merton

5

5

10

Newham

1

3

4

Redbridge

1

2

3

Richmond upon Thames

0

8

8

Southwark

16

15

31

Sutton

5

1

6

Tower Hamlets and (City of London)

11

0

11

Waltham Forest

2

4

6

Wandsworth

0

11

11

Westminster

6

7

13

Total

90

156

246

(48) Only those boroughs that have imposed parenting orders within the period shown are listed.

10 Jul 2002 : Column 1060W

Number of antisocial behaviour orders issued as from 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2001 within London by local government authority

Area

From 1 April 1999 to 31 May 2000(49)

From 1 June 2000 to 31 December 2000

From 1 January 2001 to 31 December 2001

Total

Police force area/MCC(50)

GLMCA/Metropolitan police(51)

9

19

13

41

Local government authority (LGA)(52)

Barnet

(53)

0

2

2

Bexley

(53)

2

0

2

Bromley

(53)

1

0

1

Camden

(53)

5

1

6

Croydon

(53)

1

0

1

Greenwich

(53)

0

3

3

Hackney

(53)

0

1

1

Hammersmith and Fulham

(53)

0

2

2

Lambeth

(53)

1

0

1

Lewisham

(53)

0

2

2

Newham

(53)

0

2

2

Sutton

(53)

3

0

3

Westminster

(53)

6

0

6

(49) Total figure only available for Metropolitan police force area within this period.

(50) MCCmagistrates courts committee area.

(51) Including City of London.

(52) Only those LGAs reporting an ASBO in the period shown are listed.

(53) Not available.

Speeding

Mr. Pike:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he gives the police on the margins to be allowed in speeding offences. [65778]

Mr. Denham:
The latest guidelines on speed enforcement thresholds were issued by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) in February 2000. They stress proportionality in applying the law, targeting of enforcement action and consistency of approach among police forces. I welcome the guidelines as providing a sound and transparent basis for police enforcement action in what is a sensitive area of policing. While they are designed to promote a consistent approach by police forces, the police retain full discretion to take account of the particular circumstances of any individual speeding offence.

The speed enforcement guidelines are available to the general public on the ACPO website at www.acpo.police.uk

Identity Theft

Mr. Gareth Thomas:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the level of identity theft; what action he is taking to prevent it; and if he will make a statement. [66482]

Beverley Hughes:
I refer my hon. Friend to the reply the Minister of State, my right hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Denham) gave the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Sir Sydney Chapman) on 9 April 2002, Official Report, column 702W.

Since my right hon. Friend's answer, these figures have been revised. The Cabinet Office published a report on 3 July 2002 stating that the minimum cost of identity fraud to the economy is now estimated to be in excess of £1.3 billion per annum. Two key reasons for this are the weaknesses in the process used to issue documents used as identity, and the weaknesses in processes used to check identity at point of use.

My right hon. Friend, the Home Secretary published a consultation paper on the subject of entitlement cards and identity fraud on 3 July 2002 which details, and seeks

10 Jul 2002 : Column 1061W

views on, the potential initiatives to counter identity fraud outlined in the answer to which I referred. The paper also sets out the Home Office's intention to set up a new Identity Fraud Forum to steer the work of the identity fraud work programme.

Crime and Disorder Act

Vernon Coaker:
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to extend section 17 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 to the private sector; and if he will make a statement. [66832]

Mr. Denham:
The private sector has a key role in contributing to the delivery of crime and disorder reduction. The 1998 Act requires that the private sector are invited to participate in the development and implementation of crime and disorder reduction strategies for their area in co-operation with the local crime and disorder reduction partnership. We will shortly be embarking on extensive consultation with representatives from business organisations on how best to create a more effective partnership between business, Government and other key stakeholders to deliver reductions in crime and disorder.